FASTag KYC Update and Recharge Scam
A text says your FASTag will be blocked without a KYC update or recharge and gives a number or link. The target is your card and UPI details.
Drivers rely on FASTag at toll plazas, so a warning that it will be blocked feels urgent. The text or call says KYC is pending or a minimum balance is missing, and offers a link, an app or a helpline number to fix it. The helpline is not the issuer's. It is a number that leads to a person who wants your card or UPI details, or who wants you to install a remote support app.
How the scam works
The scammer sends the message to many mobile numbers, since most car owners have a tag and many are linked to a bank account. The text names a tag issuer or a transport body and says the tag will be deactivated at midnight. Some people search online for a customer care number after a failed payment at a toll and land on a fake listing that looks real.
The pressure is the fear of being stuck at a toll plaza with a blocked tag and a double fee. The caller or page asks for the vehicle number, the registered phone and then a small recharge. A link opens a form that copies a bank or wallet page. The recharge is the bait, because the form records card numbers and the OTP.
The payoff comes from the card or UPI access and from remote control. A caller may ask you to install a support app to 'see the tag status' and then watches you open your banking app. Within minutes, amounts are moved by UPI or card. The recharge you paid for does not reach the tag, and the caller may ask for a further payment to unlock it.
An example of what you may see
Example message (invented): 'Your FASTag will be blocked tonight due to pending KYC and low balance. Update now: short link or call our support on the number below. Recharge Rs 500 to avoid double toll charges. FASTag Support.' When you call, the agent asks you to install an app and read out a code. A genuine tag issuer lets you check KYC and balance in its own official app or on the number printed on your tag documents.
This example is written for illustration. Real messages change their wording, names and links all the time.
Red flags
- It says the tag will be blocked tonight.
- It gives a mobile number or link for support.
- It asks for a recharge through a link or UPI request.
- The caller asks you to install a support app.
- You were handed the number by a search result or an ad.
- It needs your card OTP to update KYC.
What to do right now
- Do not use the link or call the number in the message.
- Check your tag balance and KYC inside the issuer's own app or the official bank app.
- Recharge only through that official app or the bank's official site.
- Never install a support app because a caller asked.
- Report the text on Sanchar Saathi.
If you already paid or shared a code
- Call 1930 quickly with the payment details.
- Ask your bank through the number on your card to block the card and UPI if you shared details.
- If you installed an app, uninstall it and review permissions.
- File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with the message and call time.
National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930. Report online at cybercrime.gov.in. Do it fast: the sooner your bank is told, the better the chance that money can be held.
Where this scam shows up
Read how it looks on each channel:
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio Sentinel's scam check reads a pasted text and notes the night-time deadline, the support number and the recharge demand. The link check looks at the address for lookalike and shortened-link patterns. The phone scan can list installed remote-support style apps and risky permissions. It cannot see your tag balance or issuer records, and the check is only as good as the text or link you give it.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions people ask
How can I check my FASTag status safely?
Open the official app of your tag issuer or your bank, which you installed from the store. You can also use the support number printed on your tag documents. Do not trust numbers from search results or texts.
Why do they want me to recharge through a link?
A recharge link is a way to capture card details or push a payment request. Recharge only inside the issuer's official app or on its official site that you type yourself. Take your time and check before acting.
A toll plaza agent offered help. Is that fine?
Staff at a plaza may help, but never share your OTP, card details or UPI PIN with anyone. Use the official app for any change and keep your phone in your own hands. A short pause costs nothing and can save a lot.